Silence just might be on the verge of extinction, and acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton believes that even the most remote corners of the globe are impacted by noise pollution.

360 Video

Sanctuaries of Silence

by Adam Loften & Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee

Desktop 360°

Requires the latest version of Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. For best experience, turn on your volume and make the video full screen. Next, hit play and then click and drag on the video to explore and play with your point of view.

Mobile App

Watch via the following apps: YouTube, Within, NYT VR, or Jaunt VR. Download one of these apps from the Apple or Android app stores and search for Sanctuaries of Silence. You can then view the film in 360 directly on your phone or tablet.

Virtual Reality

The virtual reality experience must be viewed through an app on a mobile device. You can watch via the following apps: YouTube, Within, NYT VR, or Jaunt VR. Download one of these apps from the Apple or Android app stores and search for Sanctuaries of Silence. For best results, use a headset, like Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, or the Oculus Go.

Adam Loften

Adam Loften is a director, editor, cinematographer, and producer of short documentary films that highlight pressing social and environmental issues. His work has been featured on PBS, National Geographic, the Atlantic, and the New York Times.

Director & Producer

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee is a filmmaker and composer. His award-winning films have been featured on PBS, National Geographic, the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the Atlantic, exhibited at the Smithsonian, and screened at festivals worldwide. He is the executive editor of Emergence Magazine.